Any loving parent or teacher knows that all children learn – they just all learn at different rates and in different ways. Not all children learn from books – some learn through hands-on. We used to call it apprenticeship, or shop classes. Students used to work in the cafeteria, etc etc. Times have changed a lot.

I like your idea of thinking about how to unite “liberals” and “conservatives”. It’s very strange to me that these labels are so real, and sometimes generational. What’s even worse is some people wear them proudly.

My problem can’t be unique, but it’s interesting in today’s culture: I believe that the Bible is literal. Well, most “liberals” don’t believe that, for whatever reason. Mostly, when I talk with them it’s a matter of “enlightenment” and “education”. They simply believe what their professors told them, without questioning. I received my Masters degree at the same usiversiities they did, I simply chose to question authority. Politically, however, I find myself 85-90% agreeing with the liveral viewpoint.

What that means is that there are few churches in this country I can feel at home in – the bible believing churches all want to kill foreigners and not kill unborn children; the liberal churches don’t even talk about the bible except in vague generalities. I’m pretty sure I can’t be the only one stuck in this rut – but the point here is – because I’m always the outsider, I can see the points you are making, Heidi – and I fear there may be truth in them. I hope others will read your questions and seriously think about the current direction of this country.

Poorly put together concepts like NCLBA is going to end up with more and more young children either being given an “easy exit” (fascinating euphemism) or put back into the institutions that thrived throughout our country till the 1970’s. I love the fact that you included “blue-collar” workers in your equation, because it wasn’t that long ago that they were the back-bone of what made America what it was.

Thanks for the thought-provoking post!!!